Liquid dispensing apparatus



Get. 3, 1933. RUE

LIQUID DISPEHSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q INVENTO a? g; wk; M24

.IATTORNEYS iLrnhwuiiik Patented Oct 3, 1933 'UNITED.STATE$ h H h 1,9283:

PATENT, OFFICE This invention relates toliquid dispensing ap- Iiaratus, and has particular reference to apparatus for dispensing measured quantities oi syrup, i'ruit Juicesor'the like, to bottlesor other receptacles in which carbonated beverages or the like are adapted to be contained. Certaln'standard types of syrupdispensing ma chines have beenused heretofore inthebeve'rage manufacturing and bottling industry, and in general this apparatus includes a tank for containing the syrup which is supplied thereto by means of a conduit, usually enteringgthe 'tankat the top. Afloat-controlled valve maintains the syrup in this tank at a predeterminedlevel, and a. plurality or measuring cups are located in the tank and"'are'. raised periodically to. supply a measured quantity of syrup to tubes inserted-into the bottles, the bottles being raised in position by a camjmechanism', and actuate the measuring cups in the manner described. It willfbe seen, from the roregoing description that'theiormertypes of syrup dispensing machines contained many moving and slidingparts which were subject to contamination because they were not accessible for cleaning, and. the viscous and sticky syrup was trapped in. the'inany inaccessible corners and apertures of the apparatus to provide an" active medium for the germination of bacteria. v v

' j' As mentioned above, the syrup is' supplied to'a tahk'and its level therein is controlled by'a floatoperated valve, and as this valve in the'i'ormer machines wasof the quick closing type, an objectionable hydraulic hammer action" was obtained, which'lrequently set up vibrations in' the syrup conduits, and, especially in modern'plants where these conduits are made of glass .in the interest'oi cleanliness, 'there is always. a danger that this hydraulic hammer action will fracture the glass conduit. Also, the loose cover of the tank permitted dirtand bacteria to enter readily andQrendered the syrup in the rapid contamination. In the present syrup dispensing apparatus, much the same principle of operation of the tank subject to former machines is employed, butwith'many reresulting within the hermetic allysealed tank is i E broken only'through' the sterile breather; where by contamination after. the steam sterilizing process is prevented, which would not be the case if the tank were'open'to the .air in any way at all, as in that case the steam sterilizing would not have any beneficial effect. In order to seal the joints between the tank and the intake pipe with out using the objectionable non-metallic packings,

'anovel'labyrinth packing has been designed, a 'rnodified form of which also is'used in the syrup s mflyp p nnect Located within the syrup tank is the usual number of measuring cups, which'are raised above the syrup level in the tank by the empty bottiesasthe latter are'rais'ed by a cam, so that Wmeasuredquantity of syrup is discharged from a cup into the corresponding bottle. Each tube is removably secured in a frame and is normally 'closed at one-endby a cap, which is removed when the measuring action takes place, and'the tube is inserted into the bottle to discharge the 'contentsof the syrupcup. Rubber or other non metallic" packings, bushings, and gaskets are dispcnsed' with entirely and are substituted by -me-, tallic elements'which have no pockets or recesses for the lodgment of syrup or dirt, and all sliding joints arcmade wiping so as tocontinuously-clean themselves as' the machine operates. As the measuring cups rise and fall they agitate the syrup'in the tankandit tends to splash upon the cup-lilting mechanism and lodge in' cracks and crevices where it is liable to deteriorate, and so inthe present machine splash guards are pro-- vided adjacent the cups to deflect the splashing syrup downwardly away :lrom the exposed lifting mechanism.

machines, the new machine uses a slow-operating sleeve valve which is directly connected to the float inqthe syrup tank. This sleeve valve 'isclosed gradually so that the flow of the heavy, viscous syrup is gradually decreased in velocity tothe zero point-when the sleeve valve closes, so that no hydraulic hammer results.

Also, in the pres'ent'machine, the measuring cups contained in the tank are each suspended on a sell-aligning support which permits the cups to accommodate and compensate. for any ordinary dlsalignment or bends in the thin tubes through which they discharge their syrup into the bottles. This self-aligning arrangement is oi considerable importance as in the former'ma chines the cups would jam and not operate properly if the corresponding tube were out of alignment or bent. This support also permits the cups to be readily detached and removed without disturbing their alignment in the tubes when it is desiredto clean or repair them or the tank in which they aremounted." 7 It will be seen. that a very effective and'simple syrup dispensing apparatus is obtained by this .1 invention, whereby cleanliness, facility of operation and maintenance, and efllciency are procured, while at the same timegthe objectionable features of the former machines as outlined above are obviated. v For a better understanding; of the invention," reference is made to the, accompanying drawings, in which. 7 23;, Figure 1 is an elevation of the liquid.dispensing. machine of this invention; Fig.2 isv an enlargedvertieal section of the syrup tank and syrupmeasuring mechanism of this'new machine; I. Q I Fig; 3 is an enlarged axial section of the intake pipe and. the novel labyrinth p ackings there- 1 Fig. 4' i's an enlarged vertical section of the syrupmeasuring cup'and-its supporting means; I Fig. 5isa plan'view thereof; and I I Fig; 6 illustrates in section the sterile breather of theisyrupt'ank. Y i i In thesedrawings, numeral 10 designates'a base plate upon which .is mounted. the pedestal '11 of the machinefthis pedestalfhavinga' rotatable sleeve 12 carryingthe spid 'er 13. in which the fvertieal reciprocating bottle supports14 are slidably.v mounted. As the sleeve 12 rotates, the rockers 15 are actuated by the, stationary earn ring, 16 to raise and lower 'thebottle' supports 14 iii. the usual way. Superimposed'directly above each bottle support 14 is a centering bell 1''! of the syrupv dispensing apparatus, @This centering bellis shown inenlarged view, Fig. 2,*-as consisting of an all metal element having a central bore throughwhich is adapted'to slide the filling tube 18. Aphirality of radialfsaw cuts 17.. communicate with the tube bore and serve as"air vents in 'aimanner tobe' described. Each bell 17 is supported by an integral lateral armia having the elongated slot 20 through which passes ,the squared portion 2130f the Iowerfen'd of rod' 21, 'the arm 19 being clamped onthe rod' 21between the shoulder or bead 22 thereof andnut 22. The

,slot, 20 in the bell arm1 9'is provided forjth'e purpose of enabling the bell "17 toi'b'e accurately centered on tube 18,sothatfit'willfslid easily up and down along this tube'durin'g operation of the, machine. By means .of this, arrangement, any manufacturing. or assembling inequalities which might result in inaccuratespacingbetween rod-21 and tube 18 and thus cause bell 17 to scrape or jam on tube 18,.may ;be compensated for by simply loosening nut 22, moving bell 1'7 laterally until it is accurately. centered on tube 1 -18 and then tightening downnut "22,.to lock the bell 17in this adjusted position. This adjustment is available at any time to compensate for any subsequent misalignment of the bell 17 on tube 18.

' 1 Rod 21 passes through sleeve .26 secured through the bottom of syrup tank 23, which is supported on-thexpedestaldl and is provided with a drain cock 23'. The. reducedlower end of the sleeve26 which projects through the bottom ofthe tank 23 is threaded for the reception of the securing nut 25, and the shoulder thereof is provided with a knife-edge ring 26' arranged to seal itself upon the bottom of the syrup tank 23 to form a liquid-proof joint when nut 25 is tightened.

A spring 2'7 surrounds the rod 21, and is emplaced between thebell arm 19 and nut 25, so that the"rod-21 is normally urged in a'downward directions" As shown particularly in Figure 2, the upper. end of sleeve 26 within the tank 23 is flared to form a splash guard 28 for deflecting splashing syrup downwardly in a manner to be described in greater detail later.

Thesyrup tank 23 is provided with an annular trough 29, through" the bottom of which is sealed a sleeve-30 bymeans of bushing 31 and nut 32 to form a 'packless joint having no recesses where syrup or dirt may be trapped. This joint is assembledbyinserting sleeve 30 from inside the tank through bushing 31, with which it forms a liquid-tight jointby virtue of the knife edge 30' on the underside of the flange thereof. Then the nut 32is screwed down tightly upon the'low-. er end of "sleevef30, so that the knife-edge 30 seals itself on'bushing 31, whereby a tight inhalf of its' length is slightly reduced in diameter solthat the shoulder 33 is formed thereon. The

sleeve .30 is 'sweated on the reduced portion of tube 18 so that the shoulder 33'engages the lower end of sleeve 30. Accordingly, when the sleeve is assembled witnthe bushing 31 and nut 32 through thebottom of tank 23, the tube 18 projectslupwardly into'the syrup tank .23. The upper end of this tube 18 extends above the normal syruplevel inthe tank 23 and is normally closed by a cap 34 mounted on the end of a' spring steel strip 35, which isanchored at its otherend to the upper end "of the rod 21, under an arm 36 andnut 3'1."

Asshown' especially in'Figure 5, the arm is slotted lengthwise'at eachend, the square end of rod 21 passing through the slot 38 at one end of arm 36, while the slot 39' in the other end of arm 36 embraces the square shank of stud 40, carried by the clip 41, so that the latter is suspended by arm36. The ends of clip 41 are also provided with lengthwise [slots 42,v which embrace areduced portion at the top ends of rods 43, from whose lower ends is suspended a syrup cup 44. The bottom of this syrup cup 44 is fitted with a bushing 45 and is slidably mounted on the tube 18, as shown in Figure 4. Notch 39 in arm 36. and notches 42 in the ends of clip 41 render the arm 36 and the clip 41 self-compensating in that these slots permit them to assume a position without strain, whereby the syrup cup 44 is centered naturally with respectto tube 18 upon which itslidesupwardly and downwardly. The bushing 45'continuously wipes the tube 18 free of surplus syrup asthe cup '44 moves along it, so that no syrup "can accumulate and become contaminated.

The syrup tank 23 is hermetically sealed by means of the'cover 46 over a gasket 47, the cover being clamped in position by several clamp bolts 48 guided in brackets 49 mounted on the side of tank 23,- and screwed down in place by handles 50'. The cover 46 is provided with a central aperture, around which is secured a stepped ring 51', shown in detail in enlarged Figure 3. Fitting elosely through this stepped ring 51 is an intake pipe 52 whose lower end extends adjacent the bottom of the tank 23. At apointadjacent and above, the stepped ring 51,01 the cover 46- this pipe-isprovided with a plurality of annular groovesspaced-apart lengthwise of the pipeto form beads thereon. Fitting into these grooves a labyrinth packing, whereby the pipe is sealed at this point. By means of this double labyrinth packing, the pipe 52 is sealed. in the cover- 46 without requiring non-metallic packlngs such as.

l 52 through a T, fitting '1 is 2., water pipe ,58

controllable by a valve 59. Entering water pipe 58 behind the valve 59 through a T fitting 60 is a steam pipe 61 controllable by valve 62'. The

intake pipe 52 is supported in a yoke 63 mounted T onthe syrup tank 23. I

f The flow through intake pipe 52 iscontrollable by valve 52, to which is connected 9. short length of pipe 53- of non-corrosive metal. Communicating withthis short pipe 53' is a similar shortlength of pipe 64', havinggthe flange 65 .on its upper end towhich is connected the flange 66' on the lower end oi tube 64.. Tube 64 is preferably made of glass in the interests of cleanand to enable observation of 'the how of syrup ,or other liquid from the source of supply to the tank 23. The outer surfaces of the adjacent ends of the two' short pipes 53 and '64 are provided with. spaced grooves "and beadswhich interengage with complementary E 'OOVes and beads65 formed on theinner surfaces of collar 66, which is made in two parts secured together bolts 67u, Theshort length of pipes'53 and 64' enable tobe readily handled when being ground to accurately match ,up with the collarl66, these pipes53' and 64 and collar '66 thus forming a labyrinth joint which seals the syrup supplyflpipe 'connections against the escapeof syrunrb other liquid flowing to tank 23, At the same this joint providesa r'neanswhereby the glass tube 64 may be readily dismounted for cleaning, -replacement and the like, as it isonly necessary to loosen. bolts 67' to remove split col-' 12.1 66 and thusfree the lower end of tube 64-andits extension pipe 64'. This joint is-inherently clean, as there are no cavities in which impurities may collect, nor are there anynon-metallic packing rings which might contribute to uncleanliness. Also, as this joint-is formed entirely of metal itmay be readily cleaned and sterilized. I g The lower'end of intake pipe 52, which'is adjacent the bottomof tank 23, is provided with spaced straps 68 carrying, at their lower ends the plug or block 69. Sli'dably'mounted on the outer surface of tube 52 are the sleeves '70 and 71,

which are spaced apart the proper distance. byv

brackets 72'so that sleeves'70 and 71' move as a 'unlt, being' spaced from the bottom-of tank 23 by. the engagement of the endsjof brackets 72 with the bottomoithetankj23. Brackets 72 also c'arryj thelhollowrloat 73, vwhich moves up and down withthe changing syrup level'in tank 23, and maintains it approximately constant by;supplying syrup thereto fr0m:pipe.52 by means of the novel sleeve yalve just described. It will be seen that as the float; rises with the increase in the supply of syrup to tank 23, lower sleeve 71 of the sleeve valve gradually closes the spaces between the straps 68 through which the syrup flows into the; tank 123 from pipe. 52, upper sleeve acting as; a guide. When lowersleeve 71 of the sleeve valve closes these spaces, the

: syrup ceases to fiowQthough its flow has been gradually reduced to the zero point while. the valve closed. Conversely, as the syrup is gradually dispensed, float73 falls, so that the sleeve valve reopens to' allow more syrup to gradually flow into tank 23 withoutcausing a sudden surge or any hydraulic hammer action of thesyrup within the pipes 52 and 64, such as would occur iifthe valve were closed suddenly. r The cover 46 of the hermetically sealed tank 23 is provided with the sterile breather 74, which may be shutotf by the valve 75 and is shown in detail in Figure 6. This sterile breather includes the pipe ;76. connected through the cover46 and communicating at its upper end with thesinterior' of the breather 74, which comprises acup closed at its open end by a screen77 secured in place by the cap 78 having annular air openings, 78'. This cup is filled with sterile cotton'79 as illustrated. 1 The purpose of this sterile .breather will be described later. I

In operation, the machine of this invention is supplied with bottles B which areplaced upon the bottle holders -14 As these bottles 3 are raised by the ring cam 16, the lips thereof engage the corresponding centering bell 17 of the di s pensing apparatus. The lip of. the bottle is sealed in this bell against syrup leakage, butthe radial saw cuts 17 act as vents to permit airto flow out of the bottle as it isdisplaced by the-syrup supplied thereto. Further raising of this bottle by cam ring 16 causes it to raise the centering bell 17, and with it the arm 19 and rod 21 against the tension of spring 27. As the upper end of rod 21 is connected to the measuring cup 44 through rods 43, clip 41, and arm 36,this measuring cup 44 is also vraise'd'to slidealong tube 18. carrying with it a measured supply of syrupfrom annular trough 29 of. syrup tank 23. Also, as the cup 44 rises, cap 34 is lifted from the upper end" of stationarytube 18, while the lowerend. of this tube,being stationary, is inserted in the bottle *3 as the latter risea. When the level of the syrup in the -rising cup 44 reaches the upper end of stationary tube 18, the v syrup is discharged through the latter into the bottleB which is then lowered after the corresponding measuring cup 44 has emptied its syrup therein; This action of ring cam=16 in lowering bottle Balso allows the; cup 44 to drop under the-tension of spring. 27 until it again rests in annular trough 29, of tank 23 and is filled with more syrup, in consequence. Likewise, cap 34- closes the upper end oftube 18. L i

This action is repeated with all of the bottles .whichare supplied to the several measuring de-1 al rising level of the syrup in tank 23 until the ecr e i l sed-When t e m re:

' syrup level is reached. This closingof the sleeve ;valve is very gradual and "slow, and the momentum of the downwardly flowing 'syrupfthrough pipes 52 and "64- is gradually decreased to the zero point, so that no hydraulic hammeraction takes place as ihthe former machines, which had quick closing valves. Thus, undue vibration of pipes'52and 64,,and the'liability 'of breakage of thel'attenif madeotglass; are obviated. r

The quantity of the syrupiin the tank 23 is such that the level thereof, indicated bythe'dotand-dash line in Fig. -2,-lies above the top edgesofthe'cups 44 when they'liein their lowest positions, and below the upperends'of the tubes '18, so that the cups are always completely immersed in the syrup when they'are down and no syrup can flow into the tubes 18 except that supplied thereto by the corresponding cups. 7 As the cups rise-and fall in the syrup tank, a considerable amount of' splashing'of the syrup naturally; takes place, and as it is *desired to prevent it from splashing into the 'joints' and clearances of the cup lifting'mechanism and into the annular space between rod 21 and sleeve 26,

the splash guard 28 on sleeve 26 is provided.

tank 23"with water. After this has een done thoroughly, valve 59, breather valve '75, and cock 23' are closed and-va1ve62 is opened to-allow live' steam under pressure to "flow into tank 23. The

labyrinth packing 51, 53,54, at the joint between the cover and the pipe 52 prevents steam from leaking out as does gasket 4'7, and allinterior'surfaces' oi the-tank are thoroughly steri lized'and any bacteria which-may have developed or collected in crevices are destroyed by the pressure steam, It will be noted that in this Way the V tank- 23 maybe cleaned and sterilized without opening it to the outsideairor requiring scrub bing with unclean materials or tools, 1 -Atter the steam sterilizing treatment has been completed, steam valve '62 is closed, and as the steam in tank 23' condenses, a-vacuum is created therein whichrn'ay be broken by opening breather valve 75,;whereby air is allowedto enter the tank only throughithe sterile' cotton filter '79to exclude the dirt and'ger'ms which would enter ifthe tank were'opened' to the outside air. The cap 78'prea vents the breather from being contaminated by liquids or 'dirt dropping from the top, the lateral openings'lfi' being so placed under the rimof cap '78 that foreign matter is'n'ot likely to enterthem. Thus the tank is kept in sterile conditionand new syrup may'beintroduced through pipes 64' and 52 Y Itwill be seen that the new liquid'disriensing ed for dispensing syrup, fruit juices, or other apparatus of this invention isparticularlyadaptheavy, viscous liquids, although itsuse 'is'Ynot limited thereto: All of the moving parts-are selfwiping" and thus remain clean;-"all of the joints and connections :'are self drain ing and devoid of pockets whereliquid may collect and become contaminated; and all ofthe packingsi' areself sealing-"free of deteriorating rubber," leather other non-metallic 'packings, readily-'disassembled, and easily cleaned; This is especially true of the two labyrinth packings 51-52'5 3 and rotatable relatively to each other.

53"64'-66, which maybe cleanedend ster ilized easily'and are readily disassembled'for this purpose, simply byremoving their respective split collars 53 and 66. As the labyrinth grooves of these joints are ground truly, their parts need not be assembled in the same angular relation, as they are relatively rotatable, that is, pipe 51, cover 46 and collar 53 are all rotatablerelatively to each other and pipes 53 and 66 and collar 66 are also Accordingly, :35 these labyrinth joints may also serve to connect together two rotatable pipes or other parts. Thus onepart may be' stationary and the other. part rotatable relatively thereto. I I 'The'syrup dispensing tubes, being necessarily small-andlight-so as to fit into the small bottle sponding tube 18, as it is only necessary to loosen nut 37 in order to disengage-the cups for lifting them outof "the tank. Because of thesqua're upper-extremity of rod 21 and the slots in parts 36, 41 and 35', the-whole assembly may be remade with the assurance thatthe corresponding cup will occupy the same position as it did before disassembling; e V I s While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described herein,'it is to be understood that thisinvention is not to belimited thereto, but is susceptible 'tovarious changes in form'and det'ail within its scope.

Iclairn': v '1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the com bination of a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed in the bottom-thereof, a cupslidable upon saidtubeya sleeve sealed in said reservoir adjacent said'cup, a" rod slidably mounted in'saidsleeverand extending above said cup in said reservoir, and con nections between said rod 'and the top of said 125 cup,1 whereby elevation of said rod movessaid cup along saidtube to discharge its contents into saidtube, said connections including means providing lost motion in all. lateral directions to render the cup self-centering with respect to thevtube.

f '2. Ina liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed'in; the

bottom thereof, a cuplslidable upon said tube, a

[and saidlmember providing movement between them in any lateral direction, whereby the cup is 'made self-adjusting relatively to said tube.

, 3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of'a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed in the bottom thereof, a cup slidable uponisaid tube, a memberfor lifting said cupto permit itscontents to'flow into said tube, rodsextending up- 5 wardly "from. said cup, a clip having notches in which'saidrods are movably supported', and, con nections between said clip' and member. l

.4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the c'ombl nation ofaliquid reservoir, a'tube'sealed in the bottom thereof, a cup slidable upon 'said tube, "a

member for lifting said cup to permit its contents to flow into said tube, a leaf spring extending from said member over the end of the tube, and a cap. on said spring for normally closing said tube, said.

connected to the top of the cup for lifting the cup to discharge its contents into said tube, and releasable connections between the cup and said means providing lost motion in any lateral direction, whereby the cup is self-centering with respect to the tube and may be removed'and replaced without disturbing the centered relation between said cup and tube.

6. In aliquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed in the bottom thereof, a cup slidable upon'said' tube, means for lifting said cup to discharge its contents into said tube, and a splash guard having the bottom thereof, liquid dispensing mechanism adapted to discharge liquid into said tube, a

centering bell slidable on said tube and adapted to be actuated by the receptacle to which the liquid is to be dispensed, a rod connected to said mechanism to actuate the same, an arm on said bell having-a lateral slot, and releasable means securing said rod in the slot of the bell arm whereby 'the bell may be adjusted laterally to center the same upon said tube.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed in .the bottom thereof, a cup slidable upon said tube, a sleeve sealed in said reservoir adjacent said cup, an overhanging portion on said sleeve serving as a liquid splash guard, a rod slidably mounted in said sleeve, connections between said rod and said cup, a member slidable on said tube and connected to the lower end of said rod for actuating the same, and means centering said cup and said member on said tube.

10. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a tube sealed in the reservoir, a cup slidable on the tube within the reservoir, a member for lifting the cup tov permit its contents to flow into the upper open end of said tube, and connections between the cup and said member permitting self-adjustment of said cup relatively to said tube: in any direction in a horizontal plane.

11. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir, a tube extending through the bottom of the reservoir, a cup slidable along the tube, means forraising the cup to discharge its contents into the tube, and an upwardly and outwardly flaring splash guard adjacent the means to deflect splashing liquid therefrom.

HAROLD E. RUE. 

